Green Capital Isn’t Cheap Yet’: DTB Uganda CEO’s Reality Check for a Sustainable Shift in the Manufacturing Industry.
Diamond Trust Bank Uganda (DTBU) emerged as a pivotal voice at the 2nd Annual Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Financial Symposium & Exhibition, with CEO Godfrey Ssebaana delivering a clarion call for systemic reforms to bridge the financing gap stifling Uganda’s industrial ambitions. The event, themed “Innovative Financing Solutions for a Sustainable Manufacturing Sector,” convened financial institutions, policymakers, and manufacturers to forge collaborative pathways toward inclusive growth.
Hon. David Bahati, Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Industry) and Guest of Honour, underscored the government’s commitment to accelerating industrialisation. “Through conducive policies, strategic partnerships with institutions like the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), and enhanced political stability, we are catalysing an environment where manufacturers thrive,” he affirmed. Bahati highlighted ongoing efforts to streamline regulatory frameworks and boost sector-specific financing, aligning with Uganda’s goal of a tenfold GDP increase within a decade.
DTB’s Blueprint for Transformation
Ssebaana, whose keynote anchored the symposium, positioned manufacturing as “the backbone of national transformation” but warned progress hinges on dismantling three barriers: limited affordable credit, chronic shortfalls in long-term capital, and rigid financial products. He detailed DTB’s three-pillar strategy:
Blended Finance & Patient Capital: Hybrid models merging concessional funds and private investment to de-risk high-impact projects.
Green Finance: Adoption of bonds, climate insurance, and sustainability-linked loans to align with global carbon-neutrality demands.
Fintech Disruption: Digital platforms to revolutionise SME financing, pending “progressive regulation.”
“There’s no difference between brown and green capital in Uganda today—you won’t get it cheap. But embracing sustainability unlocks better options,” Ssebaana asserted, urging manufacturers to future-proof operations.
The Liquidity Crisis & Practical Solutions
In a stark revelation, Ssebaana cited UGX 8 trillion in liquidity trapped in court systems from unresolved bad loans, urging judicial reforms to unlock capital. He further demystified high borrowing costs, citing regulatory reserves (“redundant capital”), risk-based pricing (“God never created equal fingers”), and Uganda’s premium on international debt.
To manufacturers, he offered actionable guidance:
“Master your cash flow—avoid balance sheet mismatches.”
Leverage documentary credits to defer interest until assets generate revenue.
Seek expert financial advice to optimise structuring.
Synergy with National Priorities
The dialogue reinforced alignment between DTB’s proposals and Bahati’s policy vision. Ssebaana endorsed expanding credit guarantee schemes for SMEs and deepening capital markets—a move the Minister noted would complement UDB’s ongoing interventions.
“Bank with us and bank on us,” concluded Ssebaana. “The industry will hold your hand to success.”
DTB Uganda, an Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development affiliate, showcased tailored solutions at its exhibition booth, reinforcing its role as a partner in Uganda’s industrial renaissance. With 37 branches nationwide and over 800 agents, the bank’s symposium presence underscored its commitment to sector-specific innovation.
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